Jaipur: City police Wednesday arrested two inmates of Jaipur Central Jail for allegedly masterminding a racket that allowed four prisoners to skip medical referrals and spend time at city hotels with their wives and girlfriends.The accused inmates, Anandi Lal alias Nandlal, and Alim Khan, were taken into custody for their roles in manipulating the jail’s medical referral process and routing bribes through internal networks. Lal Kothi SHO Banna Lal said Anandi Lal was instrumental in forging ties with jail staff to secure fake referral slips to SMS Hospital, while Khan allegedly managed the money transfer used to facilitate the operation.“Anandi frequented the hospital’s dispensary regularly and had good connections with the medical staff. This allowed him to manipulate the referral system to his own will. He often decided who got referred out of the jail and who did not,” Lal said. Another official told TOI that the police plans to question the jail’s medical staff and ascertain reasons cited on referral slips for transferring the inmates to SMS hospital.According to investigators, the referral racket was used to extract bribes from inmates in exchange for unauthorised outings. On Saturday, four prisoners—Rafiq Bakri, Bhanwar Yadav, Ankit Bansal, and Karan Gupta—were taken out of jail citing medical needs. They were later traced to two hotels. While Rafiq and Bhanwar were found at one place, Ankit and Karan were found at Hotel Belacasa near Jaipur Airport. Subsequently, five police personnel and four relatives of inmates were also held on Sunday.Officials said Rafiq and Bhanwar made an online transfer to Khan, who coordinated payments within the jail system, to get their names on the forged referral list.Police said the operation relied on internal collusion, where jail staff were bribed to issue fake medical slips and assign favourable guards on escort duty. Instead of going to SMS Hospital, the prisoners were then taken directly to hotels.“We are examining the medical referral process and identifying officials who helped bypass protocol,” said a senior police officer, adding that both accused are now being interrogated.
